Don’t count on grants for development-China tells Africa
African leaders should stop relying on grants from developed countries or international organisations but commit themselves to industrialisation and developing the capacity for reeling out competitive products to enhance sustainable development.
China’s Director General Department of African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lin Songtian, said at the opening ceremony of the China-Africa press exchange workshop in Beijing yesterday that rather than counting on grants, African countries should embark on massive agricultural and resource mobilisation to produce goods and services with added value.
Lin urged African leaders to stop infighting and embrace unity while remaining fully committed to serving the people.
“In Africa you spend too much time fighting one another, a leader should see the country as one, be the president of the country and not the political party, be united and committed to serve the country and the people wholeheartedly and be ready to sacrifice if necessary”, he said.
According to Lin, China is ever ready to support Africa speed up industrialisation and agricultural development as long as African leaders demonstrate satisfactory commitment in that direction.
“We prefer to help Africa manufacture, and not just to export to Africa, this is a way to help people develop. If you want to see industrialisation, you need a lot of money to develop your infrastructureconstruct good roads and provide electricity among others. In China, we emphasise on interactions with other countries because if you don’t do this, you cannot convince people to invest in your economy”, he added.
President of the Beijing International Chinese College (BICC), organisers of the workshop, Mr. Geng Xuechao, said China was keen on exchanging ideas on how to help transform countries, saying such exchanges were important to enable the world know the true China.
Africa has remained China’s long-term strategic partner. In 2013, President Xi Jinping’s first visit to Africa helped to reinforce cooperation with the continent. The workshop sponsored by the China-Africa Press Centre of the China Public Dilpomacy Association drew participants from Nigeria and Ghana. It aims to enhance a comprehensive understanding of the Chinese economy, culture, language, education, customs and livelihood.